Chapter 17: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood

Question 1

What ages include “old age”?

Answer 1

anything over 65

Question 2

Can effects of primary and secondary aging be controlled?

Answer 2

primary: no
secondary: yes (results of disease, smoking, etc)

Question 3

What ages are “young old” and “old old”?

Answer 3

young old = 65-74

old old = greater than 75

Question 4

What country has the most 100+ people?

Answer 4

The US; these people handle stress the best

Question 5

“young old” and “old old” are terms best used to define what kind of age?

Answer 5

functional age

Question 6

What is gerontology?

Answer 6

Study of aged and aging process

Question 7

What is functional age?

Answer 7

how well a person functions in a physical and social environment compared with others of the same age (can you do what you need to do)

Question 8

What is geriatrics?

Answer 8

branch of medicine concerned with process of aging and conditions and diseases of old age

Question 9

Has life expectancy increased or decreased?

Answer 9

increased from 66 to 78

Question 10

By what age do blacks live longer?

Answer 10

85

Question 11

Longevity is greatest in what populations?

Answer 11

women, whites, and those in developed countries

Question 12

T/F: There’s been reduced death rates from diseases that affect older people.

Answer 12

true, due to technology and pharmacuedicals

Question 13

Of the over 100 population, how many are women?

Answer 13

80%

Question 14

How do genetic programming theories explain the causes of aging?

Answer 14

they say biological aging is the result of a genetically determined developmental timetable

Question 15

What is the senescence program theory?

Answer 15

We age b/c there’s a switching on and off of certain genes

Question 16

How does the endocrine theory explain aging?

Answer 16

hormones control the pace of aging

Question 17

How does the immunological theory explain aging?

Answer 17

decline in immune fxn leads to increased risk of infection and death

Question 18

How does the evolutionary theory explain aging?

Answer 18

Body deteriorates after the ability to reproduce is gone

Question 19

How does the variable-rate (error) theory explain aging?

Answer 19

cells are damaged from free radicals and wear out; the greater someone’s metabolism, the decreased their lifespan

Question 20

What are responsible for some age-related disorders?

Answer 20

autoimmune diseases, like RA

Question 21

What have we researched that shows there might not be a biological limit on aging?

Answer 21

genetic manipulation and restricted caloric intake

Question 22

T/F: Changes in body systems follow similar paths.

Answer 22

false, they’re highly variable… depends on secondary aging actions too

Question 23

When do most body systems tank out?

Answer 23

Most are functioning fairly well till you get to “old old”

Question 24

T/F: There becomes less reserve in the heart in late adulthood.

Answer 24

True

Question 25

T/F: There are major changes in the brain with aging.

Answer 25

false

Question 26

What happens to neurons during aging?

Answer 26

neurons shrink or are lost, nervous system is slow

Question 27

T/F: Brain can't grow any more new neurons or develop new neural pathways later in life.

Answer 27

true, can do this if still active

Question 28

What are some physical changes that occur in late adulthood?

Answer 28

- vision and hearing problems - age related macular degeneration and glaucoma - lost of taste and smell - sleep/dream decline

Question 29

What causes glaucoma?

Answer 29

pressure on the optic nerve

Question 30

What part of the eye is responsible for clear vision?

Answer 30

center of eye

Question 31

Is strength training important in late adulthood?

Answer 31

yes

Question 32

What's a major limitation to nutrition for late adulthood people?

Answer 32

losing their teeth

Question 33

What happens to the sexual activity of those in late adulthood?

Answer 33

the frequency and intensity generally declines, although they do remain sexually active

Question 34

What percent of older people have chronic conditions?

Answer 34

80% have 1, 50% have 2; BUT they don't limit activities to a great extent

Question 35

What are some examples of chronic conditions older people have?

Answer 35

heart disease, cancer, CVA (stroke), diabetes, HTN

Question 36

How much money is spent on health care in last years of life, on average?

Answer 36

$70,000

Question 37

Has the proportion of older adults w/ physical disability increased or decreased?

Answer 37

decreased, 90% can do ADLs

Question 38

T/F: Most older adults are in good mental health.

Answer 38

true

Question 39

Alzheimer's becomes more prevalent with what? What can slow it?

Answer 39

age; behavioral and drug therapy can slow the disease (like index cards with labels on items)

Question 40

What is important when treating Alzheimer's?

Answer 40

early diagnosis is important!!

Question 41

What disease is underdiagnosed for those in late adulthood?

Answer 41

depression; especially in elderly men; we expect them to be sadder so we don't treat it

Question 42

What do the following drugs do to help alzheimers? anticholinergic drugs, memantine, and immunotherapy

Answer 42

``` anticholinergic = help brain fxn memantine = blocks receptor immunotherapy = mixed results ```

Question 43

How can we diagnose Alzheimer's?

Answer 43

through cognitive tests and CT scans

Question 44

What is the cause of Alzheimer's?

Answer 44

neurofibrillary tangles in your brain; neurons all tied up

Question 45

What intelligence test is given to older adults?

Answer 45

Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale: verbal IQ, performance IQ, and total IQ

Question 46

T/F: Crystallized intelligence increases.

Answer 46

True: based on knowledge and experience

Question 47

What does Baltes' dual process model say?

Answer 47

Mechanics of intelligence may decline, but pragmatics of intelligence (practicality) continues to grow

Question 48

The slowdown in CNS fxn may affect what?

Answer 48

the speed of info processing; but it varies among individuals

Question 49

What does the Seattle Longitudinal Study say about cognitive development?

Answer 49

use it or lose it; cog fxn is highly variable; a few ppl decline in all areas of intelligence, but many improve in some

Question 50

Does the ability to solve emotionally charged or interpersonal problems decline?

Answer 50

no, still can give advice

Question 51

T/F: There's considerable plasticity in cognitive performance.

Answer 51

true, can benefit from training and even surpass previous attainments

Question 52

Which types of memory are as good as young adults, and which decrease?

Answer 52

- sensory, semantic (long term mem), procedural = good | - working, short term mem and specific memory = bad

Question 53

What may account for much of the decline in memory functioning>

Answer 53

neurological changes and declines in perpetual speed

Question 54

Can the brain compensate for some age-related declines in memory? How?

Answer 54

yes, by using other regions like 2 lobes instead of one, or by doing memory tasks

Question 55

Metamemory studies have shown what>

Answer 55

some older adults may overestimate their memory loss (b/c of stereotypes?)

Question 56

Baltes says what about wisdom and age?

Answer 56

says they're NOT related; people of all ages give wiser responses to people in their own age groups - you DON'T get wiser with age

Question 57

What are some benefits of lifelong learning?

Answer 57

Can keep older people more mentally alert, and older adults learn better when materials/methods are geared to their age group

Question 58

What is program60?

Answer 58

take any class for fun for free!